I grew up in Selah Washington which is a small town outside of Yakima. I made the move to Seattle to attend college. At first I felt really lost in this city and the odd city layout didn't help either. Anyone who has lived here knows that if you miss your turn in Seattle you can't always just go around the block. I felt really overwhelmed and a little intimidated. This was fleeting of course and I soon began to get my bearings. After a few years of moving around from neighborhood to neighborhood I finally found Ballard. I was immidiately in love with the small town feel that graces it's downtown area. At the time all I had heard about Ballard were jokes on Almost Live. Ballard is really changing and the downtown area on Market Street has become revitalized over the last several years. The Majestic Bay Theater for example has reopened and is one of the most authentic movie destinations in the city. The theater has been there for over eight decades and is the longest running theater west of the Missippi. The owners, Elttaes LLC(which is Seattle spelled backwards), incorporated the style of the old theaters by using the original signs on the building, and the neon glow from the grand marquee is a definite nod to the past. You will only get popcorn with real butter here. The theater is just one example of the way Ballard has been able to keep the classic feel of a small town while adapting to modernization and population growth. You can dine in the old Firehouse as well as the old city library which are now both very nice restaraunts located on Market Street. It is not hard to get a feel for the history of Ballard when you are wallking down Historic Ballard Avenue either. This area of is now beginning to flourish with restaraunts, bars, and high end boutiques. The types of businesses that are filling the storefronts have changed a lot in the last five years, but the buildings and the small fishing community essence has reamained. On a sunny day in Ballard it is common to run into a neighbor, or a friend from the gym, down at Golden Gardens Park, or walking on Sunset Hill. That is what I love about Ballard. You live ten Minutes from downtown Seattle and yet you still feel like you live in a completely seperate community with it's own unique history and offerings.
